Heatsink and fan recommendation for Athlon XP

[Dave D]

I've got an ECS L7VTA mobo with an Athlon XP 2400 CPU.
The chip died, so I had it replaced on warranty.

After I'd installed the new chip, I decided to check it's operating
temperature which was 79C (174F).

Because of this I've borrowed a different heatsink and fan (Arctic
Cooling Copper Silent 2). This fan is a lot quieter and runs cooler at
63C (145F), but I think this is still too hot.

I'm going to buy a new HSF - does anyone recommend a good one which is
not too loud and is also not to expensive? I've had a quick look and a
Coolermaster Aero 7+ looks pretty good.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Cuzman]

" Any suggestions appreciated. "


I suggest that it's one of two things which is the factor in your
overheating:

1) Terrible case air-flow.
2) Incorrect application of thermal paste.

I have an ECS K7S5A Pro with a 266FSB XP 2600+, and I keep my temperatures
between 42C and 48C with an Arctic-Cooling Copper Silent 2L.

 

[kony]

I've got an ECS L7VTA mobo with an Athlon XP 2400 CPU.
The chip died, so I had it replaced on warranty.

After I'd installed the new chip, I decided to check it's operating
temperature which was 79C (174F).

Are you SURE you're installing the heatsink correctly?
I suspect your other CPU died from incorrect heatsink installation, either
that or motherboard problem. If it's the motherboard, replace it. With
heatsink properly installed, fan working, it's hard to end up with 79C
unless the case had very, very bad airflow.

Because of this I've borrowed a different heatsink and fan (Arctic
Cooling Copper Silent 2). This fan is a lot quieter and runs cooler at
63C (145F), but I think this is still too hot.

Yes, too hot. That heatsink is junk, relatively speaking, though still
the aforementioned issues might apply, poor case cooling or a motherboard
problem. Check CPU core voltage reading, compare to spec for your CPU
(1.65V?).

I'm going to buy a new HSF - does anyone recommend a good one which is
not too loud and is also not to expensive? I've had a quick look and a
Coolermaster Aero 7+ looks pretty good.

Best choice for a cooler right now is an SLK-947U for $20. It might be a
few $ more than you wanted to spend, but the improvement is easily worth
it over most $10-15 coolers, at least for a medium to higher speed CPU
like that. It doesn't come with fan though, add whatever you want. You
won't find a better heatsink for less than $40, unless the alternative is
also as a deeply discounted sale.

http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/thslsoco.html

That cooler might be enough even with a poor case airflow, but considering
that OTHER parts in the case might also be running hot, you might assess
case issues first, fix those if necessary, then see what result it has on
temps.

 

[Dave D]

" Any suggestions appreciated. "


I suggest that it's one of two things which is the factor in your
overheating:

1) Terrible case air-flow.
2) Incorrect application of thermal paste.

I have an ECS K7S5A Pro with a 266FSB XP 2600+, and I keep my temperatures
between 42C and 48C with an Arctic-Cooling Copper Silent 2L.

I've followed this advice and done the following

1) Tidied up all the loose cables which were all over the place
2) Installed a fan from an old PSU as an extractor at the top rear of
the case.

This has made a difference and I'm now running at 57C (135F). I've
also ordered some Arctic Silver thermal grease which hopefully will
shave a bit more off.

However, I should be aiming for sub 50C shouldn't I??

 

[Shep©]

I've got an ECS L7VTA mobo with an Athlon XP 2400 CPU.
The chip died, so I had it replaced on warranty.

After I'd installed the new chip, I decided to check it's operating
temperature which was 79C (174F).

Because of this I've borrowed a different heatsink and fan (Arctic
Cooling Copper Silent 2). This fan is a lot quieter and runs cooler at
63C (145F), but I think this is still too hot.

I'm going to buy a new HSF - does anyone recommend a good one which is
not too loud and is also not to expensive? I've had a quick look and a
Coolermaster Aero 7+ looks pretty good.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I use and recommend this one,
http://tinyurl.com/ybtn
http://tinyurl.com/3cobu
Bargain of the year and comes with Arctic silver equivalent.
Present Idle temps O/C XP1800 39 Deg C.
1 80mm Case fan.
HTH



--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
email shepATpartyheld.de
Free songs to download and,"BURN" :O)
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm

 

[Dave D]

I've got an ECS L7VTA mobo with an Athlon XP 2400 CPU.
The chip died, so I had it replaced on warranty.

After I'd installed the new chip, I decided to check it's operating
temperature which was 79C (174F).

Because of this I've borrowed a different heatsink and fan (Arctic
Cooling Copper Silent 2). This fan is a lot quieter and runs cooler at
63C (145F), but I think this is still too hot.

I'm going to buy a new HSF - does anyone recommend a good one which is
not too loud and is also not to expensive? I've had a quick look and a
Coolermaster Aero 7+ looks pretty good.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Very interesting development...

Got some arctic silver and tidied up the cables - got the temp down to
about 58C

Bought a new fan - Coolermaster Aero7. Normal running, the temp was
about 53C with the fan half throttle, so I still wasn't happy. 48C at
full throttle, but bloody loud.

Just flashed the BIOS to the latest version - now showing as 37C on
the slowest fan setting!!! Fan full tilt - down to 32C !!!

Bloody hell, it was the mobo lieing to me all along.

Moral of the story...

Flash the BIOS on L7VTA motherboard if you're having temperature
problems with BIOS less than version 1.7G. Save yourself hours messing
around refitting heatsinks!